Walker’s BLOG

Following the onslaught of rumors and shutdown news, NCsoft Austin officially confirmed to Warcry “that 21 positions are being eliminated in the Austin office of NCsoft in the area of product development.” Dungeon Runners will also suffer losses, most notably Associate Producer April “CuppaJo” Burba, and Community Manager “Crickette”.

Tabula Rasa was not touched upon in the official release, meaning that its core team will likely be unaffected by the cuts. Concerning the prototype and unannounced project, it has been confirmed that Scott “Lum The Mad” Jennings left NCsoft today.

NCsoft North America Director of Public Relations, David Swofford sent us the following reply, asserting the company’s refocusing efforts:

We are announcing that 21 positions are being eliminated in the Austin office of NCsoft in the area of product development. Primarily this is related to products which we have not previously announced and were in prototype phases. We are also cutting some positions on the Dungeon Runners team after deciding not to port the client to other platforms at this time.

Planning a day trip around the environs of Middle-earth? If so, you may wish to check out Lord of the Rings Online’s Fashat Laug, though how hospitable a war camp would be remains to be seen.

When Oskari, brother of Iivari and First Hunter of the Suuri-lehmä tribe, led many of the Earth-kin hunters in a revolt against their brethren, he aided in the creation of a new tribe: the Rauta-lehmä, the tribe of the Iron Aurochs. He led them eastward into lands controlled by the Rauta-lehmä’s masters, the Angmarim. There, in the North Downs, they established a war-camp at Fashat Laug, near the ruins of Ost Crithlanc.

At Fashat Laug, the Rauta-lehmä gather their might, recruiting more of their kindred and replacing their crude hunting tools with iron weapons provided by the Hillman-armourers at Ost Crithlanc. When the storm of Angmar’s wrath is finally released, the Rauta-lehmä of Fashat Laug will stride forth against their own people and all others who stand against the Iron Crown.

Fashat Laug is a site created by Turbine for The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ to further develop the giant-race called the Earth-kin. Players will likely find many items stolen from the Suuri-lehmä there.